Get your Meydan free zone company registered from as little as AED 12,500, with a central Dubai business address, over 2,500 approved business activities, and a license that can be issued in as little as 60 minutes.
Meydan Free Zone was established in 2009 under Ruler's Decree No. 5 by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It sits in the center of Dubai, close to Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City and the Dubai Logistics Corridor. That puts it within minutes of Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Dubai International Airport, which is rare for a free zone at this price point.
The location is only part of the story. Meydan is an award-winning, fully digital free zone that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every step of your company formation happens online. From choosing your business activities to signing your memorandum and articles of association. No queuing. No unnecessary paperwork. No need to be physically present to get your company registered.
Meydan Free Zone supports a wide range of businesses and does not focus on one sector. Consulting firms, e-commerce brands, media companies, tech startups, and trading businesses all operate within the same ecosystem. That cross-industry community is part of what makes it work so well for entrepreneurs who are still building out their full business model.
The free zone also sits alongside the iconic Meydan Hotel, a premium golf course, and the Dubai World Cup venue. That is the world's richest horse race, and it takes place right here. It is the kind of setting that leaves a lasting impression on international clients and business partners.
Meydan combines a central Dubai address, fully digital setup, and transparent pricing in a way that makes it one of the most practical free zone choices for founders at every stage.
Every Meydan company setup includes the full suite of legal documents and access rights you need to operate, bank, hire, and grow.
Your official Meydan free zone trade license covering all selected business activities. Valid for 12 months and renewable annually.
Legal proof that your company is a registered entity in the Meydan Free Zone. Needed for banking, contracts, and visa applications.
A recognized business address in the heart of Dubai, close to Downtown and Business Bay. Used for correspondence, banking, and official filings.
Your company's founding legal document, covering shareholder details, activity scope, and governance structure. Issued digitally as part of your setup.
A formal record of all shareholders and their ownership stakes in the company. Included as a core document in your company kit.
A digital lease agreement tied to your chosen workspace option. Required for license issuance and visa quota allocation.
The right to apply for UAE residence visas based on your package. Quotas range from zero visas for entry packages to six or more with larger office arrangements.
Direct access to Meydan's network of 26 plus banking partners. Pre-vetted documentation support is built into the setup process.
The fastest business license in the UAE, built for solo entrepreneurs.
For businesses involved in trading, import, export, and general commerce.
For service-based, consultancy, and knowledge-driven businesses.
For light manufacturing, assembly, and production businesses.
For online sellers, digital marketplaces, and remote retail businesses.
For content, creative, and digital media businesses.
Meydan free zone is one of the most transparent free zones in Dubai on pricing. A free cost calculator shows your exact numbers before you apply. Here is a realistic picture of what to budget for 2026.
From AED 12,500 per year
The entry option for founders who do not need UAE residency yet. Includes the license, registered address, and up to three business activities.
From AED 14,350 per year
Includes the license and one investor or partner visa. Ideal for solo entrepreneurs relocating to Dubai.
From AED 23,600 per year
Covers the license and six visa slots. Suited to small teams and growing businesses with active staff requirements.
Each visa costs approximately AED 3,500 to 5,000, covering the entry permit, medical test, and Emirates ID. Your package determines how many slots you start with.
Required before employee visas can be processed. Budget approximately AED 2,000 for the first year.
Flexi-desks range from AED 5,000 to 15,000 per year. Fully serviced offices are available for teams that need dedicated space.
Up to three activity groups are included in the base license. Adding a fourth group attracts a cross-activity fee. Meydan periodically offers waivers on these fees, so checking current promotions at the time of application is worthwhile.
UAE residents can spread license costs across monthly installments using a credit card, with a minimum spend of AED 1,000. This makes Meydan one of the only Dubai free zones to offer structured payment flexibility right from the start.
All figures are indicative for 2025 and 2026. Actual costs depend on your chosen activities, office type, and visa needs. Use the Meydan free zone cost calculator for an exact figure, or speak with Riz & Mona Consultancy for a full itemized quote at no charge.
Every step is online. Every step is guided. Whether you are going through the Fawri track or the standard route, here is exactly what the journey looks like from start to finish
Decide whether Fawri or the regular license suits your setup. Then select your business activities. You can pick up to three industry groups and include as many related activities within each group as your business requires.
Use the Meydan name check tool to confirm your company name is available. Then run the free cost calculator to see an exact quote for your chosen activities, visa count, and office type. No guesswork, no surprises.
Submit your passport copy, proof of address, and any required corporate documents through the Meydan digital portal. Clear guidance is provided for every document at each stage.
Fawri applicants with a valid Emirates ID and UAE Pass receive their full company kit within 60 minutes. Standard applicants typically receive theirs within 1 to 3 business days. Both tracks issue the trade license, certificate of formation, MOA, share register, and lease agreement.
The establishment card must be in place before any employee visa can be processed. Once issued, investor and employee visa applications are submitted through the Meydan digital system.
A visit to the UAE is needed at this stage for medical testing and biometric registration. Riz & Mona Consultancy submits all government paperwork on your behalf. Your Emirates ID arrives within 7 to 10 working days of the biometrics appointment.
With 26 plus banking partners and pre-vetted document support built into the portal, the banking step at Meydan is smoother than most. Instant account options at select partner banks can get you transacting the same day your license is issued.
The document list is one of the lightest in Dubai. Getting everything together before you start means your application moves cleanly, and with Fawri, the whole process can be done in a single session.
Documents from outside the UAE typically require notarization and legal attestation. The exact requirements depend on your country of origin and corporate structure. Riz & Mona Consultancy confirms the specific list for your situation at no cost before the process begins.
Your Meydan free zone license gives your company the right to sponsor UAE residence visas. The number of visas available depends on the package and workspace you choose.
Entry packages start at zero visas for founders who only need the license. Mid-range packages cover one to three visas. Larger office arrangements unlock higher quotas.
Riz & Mona Consultancy manages the full visa process for Meydan clients. Every government submission is handled on your behalf, from the establishment card application through to Emirates ID collection. The only step that requires your physical presence in the UAE is medical testing and biometric registration.
Riz & Mona Consultancy provides full visa process support. All decisions rest with UAE immigration authorities. Visa eligibility, duration, and requirements are subject to change.
Banking is baked into the Meydan setup process in a way that most free zones simply do not offer. Over 26 banking partners are connected to the Meydan ecosystem. Pre-vetted document support is part of the digital platform. Some partner banks offer instant account opening and zero-balance options for eligible businesses, so you can start issuing invoices before your physical card even arrives.
Launched in April 2025, Fawri is Meydan's instant licensing platform. It is the fastest business setup option in the UAE. Eligible solo founders with a UAE Pass and valid Emirates ID receive their full company kit, including the trade license, certificate of formation, MOA, share register, and lease agreement, within 60 minutes. It covers over 1,800 approved activities. It includes one free amendment in year one. It comes with a money-back guarantee, a first in the UAE free zone market.
Meydan offers a publicly available, real-time cost calculator. You enter your license type, activities, visa count, and office preference and get an exact figure in seconds. No other major Dubai free zone gives this level of pricing transparency before the conversation even starts.
Meydan operates as a fully digital free zone around the clock. Document submission, trade name reservation, payment, and license issuance all happen online. No physical office visit is needed to register your company. This matters a great deal to international founders who want to set up in Dubai without a flight.
UAE residents can pay their Meydan license fees in monthly installments using a credit card, with a minimum spend of AED 1,000. For founders managing cash flow carefully in the early months, this kind of flexibility is genuinely useful and hard to find elsewhere in Dubai.
Meydan fills a specific spot in the Dubai free zone market. Central address, digital-first setup, transparent pricing. Here is how it sits against two of the most commonly considered alternatives.
Best for startups, solo founders, and digital businesses wanting a central Dubai address with transparent pricing and instant setup.
Best for SMEs, budget-conscious setups, and e-commerce businesses wanting a credible Dubai license at a competitive price.
Best for commodity traders, crypto businesses, and multinationals wanting a globally recognized premium free zone address.
Ready to see your exact Meydan setup cost?
Use the free cost calculator or speak with a business setup expert at Riz & Mona Consultancy. No commitment required.
Our Advantage
Before we recommend any package, we review what your business actually does, how many people need visas, and what your timeline looks like. The cheapest package is not always the right one, and we would rather tell you that upfront.
Meydan allows up to three activity groups under one license. Picking the wrong combination creates problems at the banking stage and at renewal. We map your full business scope before anything is submitted.
The Fawri license is fast, but it is not the right call for every business. We assess your structure, shareholder count, and activity needs and tell you clearly which track to take, so you do not waste time on the wrong route.
We look at how many visas you will realistically need over the next 12 to 24 months, not just at launch. Getting the office package wrong at the start means an expensive upgrade mid-year. We prevent that from happening.
Meydan has 26 plus banking partners, but not every bank suits every business. We assess your activity type, residency status, and expected transactions, then introduce you to the institution most suited to your application.
Every quote from Riz & Mona Consultancy covers the license, establishment card, activities, office, visas, and professional fees. You see the full picture before you decide. No adjustments later, no additions at the invoice stage.
License renewals, VAT registration, corporate tax compliance, accounting, and future mainland expansion are all available. Your business will grow. We make sure your legal and compliance setup keeps pace.
Our team is based in Business Bay, Dubai. When you need someone who knows the Meydan system, the UAE banking landscape, and the immigration process from the inside, you have a physical office and a real team to call on.
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